OHES Paw Prints

Principal's Summer Update

24-25, Here...We...Come!

Hello there, OHES families! I have no doubt that this email finds most of you carrying just a little bit of stress and sorrow as we count down these August days! Summer is a special time and we hope all of our families have enjoyed rest, relaxation, and some purposeful time with our students. Mrs. Caudill and I are gearing up for another fantastic year here at Orchard Hill, one filled with hands-on learning, thought-provoking questions, and lots and lots of special events and activities!

My summer was full of its normal Van Hise traditions, like the Delaware beaches and road trips out to Ohio to see family. Being big sports fans, we also were lucky enough to catch a couple of Phillies games down in Philadelphia (inset right).

Speaking of baseball….. Mrs. Caudill and her family had a summer FILLED with baseball! Gavin’s team competed all summer to punch their ticket for the Little League World Series… and they made it! (pic below) The Caudills took on Williamsport in August to support their favorite slugger and his teammates, as they represented the Mid-Atlantic Region. It was the experience of a lifetime and a dream come true!

Our building is rounding into form after its typical summer cleaning, as our custodial staff has been hard at work making sure all of our spaces are ready for the first day of school on September 5th. While the 23-24 school year brought with it many new endeavors, including full day kindergarten and our pre-k students at the Early Childhood Center, we are thankful for a bit more regularity this year so we can hit the ground running!

We are looking forward to welcoming all of our students to the 2024-25 school year in just a few short weeks. Below my signature you will find important information, including how to obtain your child's teacher assignment later this summer as well as the date/times of our annual Open House.

Wishing you all the best these final days of summer,

Mr. Van Hise

Orchard Hill Open House Information

On Wednesday, September 4th, we will open our doors to parents for our annual "Open House" event. Homeroom teachers will be on hand to greet you as you and your student get a first look at their new classroom. Specific "windows" of time for you to visit are below and we ask that you please be respectful of your teacher's time. All PK open houses will take place at the Early Childhood Center, adjacent to OHES, along Burnt Hill Road.

Kindergarten: 10:10-10:50am
1st grade: 8:40-9:20am
2nd grade: 10:10-10:50am
K-2 Autism: 9:50am-10:30am
PK Integrated AM: 1:40-2:00pm
PK Integrated PM: 2:00-2:20pm
PK Full Day: 1:45-2:15pm

Further details will be provided in a separate communication prior to the event.

Student Placement Information

On Friday, 8/23, you will be able to access your child's placement for the school year through the Parent Access portal, as well as a welcome letter from your child's homeroom teacher(s). We have worked diligently to place your child in the best possible setting. Please know that at this time we will not be able to accommodate any requests for classroom changes. Thank you for your understanding. Once in Parent Access you will navigate to a welcome letter from your child's teacher. Also be sure to look at our Parent/Student Handbook for more information about our school.

Student Placement Information :

1) Visit https://parents.mtsd.k12.nj.us

2) Enter your username, which is your email address, and your password. If you forgot your password, use the "forgot my password" link. Your password will then be sent by email. If you are unable to log in or do not have an account, please contact genesissupport@mtsd.us.

3) Click on documents and view the teacher's welcome letter

Student ID Cards

All returning students are expected to wear their school-issued student ID on the first day of school.

Students must wear their school-issued student ID and lanyard at all times on the exterior of their clothing from the moment they enter the bus and/or walk into the building
An ID is a school-issued item, which must be kept in the same condition in which it was issued.
All student IDs have barcodes (connected to your child’s account) which will be used in the cafeteria to help facilitate faster-moving lunch lines. This will afford students more time to eat and enjoy the company of their friends.
If a student loses their ID card or lanyard they will be charged $5.00 to replace it. Payment must be made through your PaySchools account.
If you wish to purchase your own plastic case to help safeguard your ID card, you may do so (as long as the front and back of the ID card remain visible).

For students new to the district and all PK/kindergarteners, temporary IDs will be issued at the beginning of the school year. More information on this will be sent in a separate communication from Mr. Van Hise.

Please know that this is another layer of protocols we have implemented to increase overall safety and security at our school.

School Supplies

As a reminder, school supplies by grade level can be found here.

Important Links

Please click here for an important letter from our school nurse, Mrs. Hanna, regarding your child's health.

Our lunch service will be provided by Maschio's Food Service. Please click here for information for parents/guardians.

MES PTA Information

Our Montgomery Elementary School PTA president for the upcoming year is Mrs. Danielle O’Connor. She is working hard with her team of volunteers to plan special events for this year and encourages you to get involved. The PTA will make sure we have many "Welcome Week" volunteers to assist the children in finding their way to classrooms during the first days of school and we are grateful for their help. Our MES PTA is a great organization that supports many of our school-wide events. Click on the PTA link for more information on how you can get involved in our school

Other Important Dates to Remember

Friday, August 23rd: Homeroom Teacher assignments will be visible in the Genesis parent portal

Thurdsay, September 5th: First day of school for students

Monday, September 23rd: PK and K Back-to-School Night

Tuesday, September 24th: 1st, 2nd Grade, and K2 Autism Back-to-School Night

Follow Us on Instagram!

Follow us on Instagram!

There are many exciting things happening everyday at OHES. We will share these special events and learning activities that happen on Instagram. Please follow us for updates @monty_ohes.